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Thứ Ba, 17 tháng 1, 2012

good-bye-and-thank-you

Well, dear readers, it's certainly no surprise to you that I've been taking some time off from this blog lately. And after careful consideration, I've decided to suspend my beauty coverage here indefinitely. Between taking care of my almost-five-month-old daughter, juggling magazine assignments, and working on a book, suffice it to say I'm swamped. I've really appreciated your loyalty over the past two years, and I hope that you'll continue to read my work in upcoming glossies (Women's Health, Prevention, and Vanity Fair on the way!). Of course, I'll always be a beauty junkie, and you can also follow me on Twitterfor news on my favorite products. And, if you're still craving in-depth industry news, I'd love to refer you to my brilliant friend Celia, who heads up Style.com's beauty column. Bookmark this link for smart, funny, and of-the-minute info on all things beauty. Stay pretty! xxR

Foreign-exchange


My bathroom seems to be heavily populated by imported items of late—many of them from Australia. Considering that the natives there know a thing or two about beauty (see Naomi WattsGemma Ward, and Cate Blanchett), I've decided to devote this post to my favorite acquisitions from the land down under. 

1. Bloom Cosmetics' silky eye shadows (above left) glide effortlessly onto lids without creasing, thanks to natural ingredients that include essential oils and botanicals. New, spring shades—Antique Gold, Platinum, and Pistachio—intensify brown, blue, and hazel eyes, respectively. Plus, I adore the quirky, playful packaging (think the Aussie version Benefit). 

2. I've had the pleasure of interviewing Poppy King, creator ofLipstick Queen, on several occasions over the years, and her innovative lip products are as witty and vibrant as she. Oxymoron gloss, for example, offers those with clumsier fingers a foolproof way to get rich, matte lips—and a tiny dab on cheeks gives them a beautiful, creamy flush. 

3. Speaking of having a sense of humor, makeup artist Napoleon Perdis always seems to have fun with his eponymous collection. My recent addiction is his Peep Show Madame Beyond mascara, which lengthens and volumizes fringe to give them sweeping, velvet curtain-like effects. 

4. Remember those 90s infomercials for Nad's wax? The company, which literally began out of founder Sue Ismiel's kitchen, has certainly evolved over the years. My pick? The Large Body Wax Strips. They're neat, double-sided, ready-to-use, and quickly smooth legs—with results lasting up to four weeks.

5. Need a break from the "Ballet Slippers" and "Mademoiselles "of the nail polish world? Try Miss Frou Frou, an indie range that offers punchy, on-trend hues like tropicana orange and pea green—perfect for a summer pedicure.

Neighborhood-pilates

"To be honest, I opened the space because of its location," says Jan Phillips, a Brooklyn mother and owner of Henry Street Pilates in Cobble Hill. "It's right near my house!" The former ballerina, who logged in 700 hours of training with Romana Kryzanowska (Joseph Pilates' successor) before receiving her certification, transformed a vacated laundromat into a veritable Pilates paradise, complete with seven Towers, last summer in record time (just six weeks), and since September, has drawn a steady stream of in-the-know neighborhood clients. "I've had to hire two new instructors already, we've been so busy," she says. Her focus on classical Pilates, as its creator intended, involves a series of short exercises on an elevated mat connected to springs, bars, and handles that "allow you to move the body in any number of directions...up and down, in and out, back to front, side to side," says Phillips. "Think of a trapeze act without the Spandex and altitude." And, thanks to small, intimate classes, plus several sessions throughout the day, patrons receive plenty of individual attention for a fraction of the cost of private lessons. Advanced reservations are required, and can be purchased atwww.henrystreetpilates.com.